Folk Fest: Escovedo’s been to the circus and back . . . a few times
Photo courtesy Bloodshot Records. Alejandro Escovedo has evolved a great deal since he began his music career roughly 40 years ago with a group called The Nuns.
Whether he’s playing for the Calgary crowd at the Folk Festival or opening up for the Sex Pistols in 1978, Alejandro Escovedo always plays with passion.
This San Antonio born singer/songwriter has a distinct sound that is pulled from his Mexican roots and punk rock start. He began his music career in the 1970’s with the new wave/punk rock band The Nuns.
Escovedo says that his experience in The Nuns “affected everything”. When asked to describe the experience of opening up for The Sex Pistols at their infamous last show in 1978 in San Francisco, he simply replied, “It was a circus.”
Some artists that have inspired Escovedo during his career are David Bowie, The Stooges, The Clash, MC5 and The Velvet Underground.
Having the same management, Escovedo and Bruce Springsteen have formed a strong working relationship. Escovedo performed alongside Springsteen in 2008 playing Escovedo’s well-known single “Always a Friend.”
Folk Fest Spotlight
Alejandro Escovedo
Shows: Saturday evening mainstage, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday 3:10 p.m. Stage 5 (With Chad VanGaalen, Lee Harvey Osmond, Jolie Holland)
For Escovedo’s website click here
From his early punk days to his current release “Real Animal” in 2008, Escovedo believes that every song and every album has a new meaning for that time in his life.
“It’s all about the art of songwriting,” he says, noting that he and his band plan to start recording a new album at the end of the year. “I’m really looking forward to getting into the studio again.”
The music that you would find Escovedo listening to these days would be “Tinariwen, Bad Plus, African Guitars … all beautiful music.” His eclectic taste and years of experience have truly shaped Escovedo to be a one-of-a-kind performer.
